Compressor With Controlled Capacity

ABSTRACT

A compressor with controlled capacity mainly includes a double cylinder compressor with a reservoir, a capacity switch device, the outlet for the intake pipe of the said reservoir is divided into two branches, which are connected with the upper and lower cylinder through a capacity switch device switched between the 2way-2through and oneway-2through switch to realize the connection in series or in parallel for the double cylinder, as a result, the discharge capacity of the compressor is that of the first stage cylinder when connection in series, or the sum of the two cylinders discharge amount when connection in parallel. The capacity switch device may be a special 4way-2way reversing valve or the combination of the single way valve and the general 4way reversing valve, or the combination of the solenoid valve and the general 4way reversing valve, or the combination of three solenoid valves, or the combination of a single way valve and two solenoid valves. With the present invention it has completed the control of two discharge volume of the compressor, this may not only simplify the fabrication process and reduce the installation space for the compressor, reduce the manufacture cost, but also the control is very simple and reliable so that the market competence is raised significantly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENE APPLICATION

The application claims the priority of the Chinese patent applicationNo. 200510028385.X with filing date of Aug. 2, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rotatable compressor used for airconditioner, refrigerator and hot-pump type water heater, and moreparticularly to a compressor with controlled capacity and its capacityswitch device.

2. Description of Related Art

The conventional compressor with controlled capacity is generallyprovided with openings in communication with intake and dischargechamber at single stage compressor cylinder or its upper or lowercylinder head, the open and cut-off of the openings is controlled bymeans of solenoid valve to realize the capacity control, also, there aretwo or more compressors connected in parallel to effect the capacitycontrol. The capacity controlling way of this type is technicallycomplex, less reliability and high overall cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a compressor withcontrolled capacity, the flow of refrigerant gas in the double cylindercompressor is changed through a capacity switch device to realize theconversion between compression in series or in parallel of the doublecylinders, as a result, the compressor outputs discharge capacity of onecylinder or two cylinders.

The another object of the present invention is to provide a 4way-2waysolenoid valve suitable for the above mentioned compressor withcontrolled capacity, in order to simplify the structure and control ofthe said type compressor.

A compressor with controlled capacity in accordance with the inventionmainly includes a double cylinder compressor with a reservoir, acapacity switch device, the outlet for the intake pipe of the saidreservoir is divided into two branches, which are connected with theupper and lower cylinder through a capacity switch device switchedbetween the 2way-2through and oneway-2through switch to realize theconnection in series or in parallel for the double cylinder, as aresult, the discharge capacity is the discharge capacity of the firststage cylinder when connection in series, or the sum of the twocylinders discharge when connection in parallel.

The capacity switch device has two input passages a and c and two outputpassages b and d, while in one work state, the input passage a iscommunicated with the output passage b, the input passage c iscommunicated with the output passage d; however in the other work stateafter switching, one passage between the input passage c and the outputpassage b or between the input passage a and the output passage d isblocked.

The special 4way-2way solenoid valve used in the compressor withcontrolled capacity in accordance with the invention has a pneumaticslide valve controlled by a solenoid valve, the said slide valve mainlyincludes a movable valve core controlled by a solenoid valve, a valveseat and two input passages and two output passages, the middle of thesaid valve core is a gas collection chamber which has 4 passages, one ofwhich is an input passage a and the other three passages arrangedequidistantly on the valve seat, the left and right one are outputpassage b, d, the middle one is another input passage c; the valve coredrives a throttle bowl which can slide on the valve seat towards left orright, on the left or right position can cover the throttle bowl theleft adjacent 2 passages b, c, or the right adjacent 2 passages c, d andmake them in communication; at the same time the input passage a iscommunicated with the output passage d or c which is not covered by thethrottle bowl, characterized in that the throttle bowl is provided witha bowl tongue on one side, when the throttle bowl is situated on oneposition and only on this position, the bowl tongue covers and blocksthe output passage on the seat which is not covered by the throttlebowl.

The advantage of the present invention consists in that it mayconveniently realize the conversion between two stage compressor anddouble cylinder compressor to complete the control of two dischargevolume by making use of the said capacity switch device, particularlythe special 4way-2way solenoid valve in connection with a doublecylinder compressor in accordance with the present invention, this maynot only reduce the manufacture cost but also simplify the fabricationprocess and reduce the installation space for the compressor,furthermore the control is very simple and reliable so that the marketcompetence is raised significantly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the structural diagram for the first embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 2 is the structural diagram for the second embodiment of thepresent invention,

FIG. 3 is a sketch diagram of a capacity switch device which is switchedbetween 2way-2through and 1way-2through,

FIG. 4 is a sketch diagram of the special 4way-2way solenoid valve inaccordance with the present invention,

FIG. 5 is a sketch diagram of a capacity switch device consisted of asingle way valve and a 4way valve,

FIG. 6 is a sketch diagram of a capacity switch device consisted of asolenoid valve and a 4way valve,

FIG. 7 is a sketch diagram of a capacity switch device consisted ofthree solenoid valves,

FIG. 8 is a sketch diagram of a capacity switch device consisted of asingle way valve and a solenoid valve.

In the drawings there are shown the reservoir outlet 12,14, lowercylinder 20, intake inlet of the lower cylinder 22, discharge outlet ofthe lower cylinder 24, upper cylinder 30, intake inlet of the uppercylinder 32, discharge outlet of the upper cylinder 34, compressorcasing 40, upper outlet of the casing 42, bypass of the casing 44,branch pipe 46, reversing valve 50, solenoid valve 51, input passage a52, slide valve 53, valve core 532, gas collection chamber 534, valveseat 536, valve bowl 538, output passage b 54(unblocked), input passagec 56, output passage d 58(blocked), single way valve M and solenoidvalve N.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described in more detailed with respect toseveral embodiments.

Embodiment 1

The present embodiment shows the connection form between a doublecylinder compressor and the special 4way-2way reversing valve accordingto the invention as shown in FIG. 1. An outlet 12 of the reservoir 10 isconnected with inlet 22 of the lower cylinder, the outlet 24 of thelower cylinder is connected with the unblocked output passage 54 of thereversing valve 50, the input passage 52 of the reversing valve isconnected with the bypass 44 on the compressor casing; the anotheroutlet 14 of the reservoir is connected with the output passage 58 ofthe reversing valve which may be blocked, the input passage 56 of thereversing valve is connected with the inlet 32 of the upper cylinder,the gas compressed by the upper cylinder will be discharged through thecompressor upper outlet 42.

The work process is performed as follows: when the reversing valve is inthe 2way-2through state, the fluid in one passage 12 of the reservoirenters the lower cylinder 20, the output of the lower cylinder 20 entersthe bypass 44 on the compressor casing through the passage 54-52 of thereversing valve, the fluid in another passage 14 of the reservoir entersthe upper cylinder 30 through the passage 58-56 of the reversing valve,the output of the upper cylinder 30 and the output of the lower cylinder20 converge in the compressor casing, and discharged through the upperoutlet 42 on the compressor casing. At this time the two cylinders arearranged in parallel, the discharge volume is the sum of the twocylinders' discharge amount; when the reversing valve is in theoneway-2through state, the output of the lower cylinder 20 enters theupper cylinder 30 through the passage 54-56 of the reversing valve, theoutput of the upper cylinder 30 is discharged through the upper outlet42 on the compressor casing, the fluid in another passage 14 of thereservoir is blocked at the output passage 58 of the reversing valvewhich may be blocked, at this time this passage is inactive.

This connection form is characterized in that when two cylinders arearranged in series, the discharged amount is that of the first stagecylinder, and the gas in the casing is the high pressure gas dischargedfrom the second stage cylinder.

Embodiment 2

The present embodiment shows another connection form between a doublecylinder compressor and the special 4way-2way reversing valve accordingto the invention as shown in FIG. 2. An outlet 12 of the reservoir 10 isconnected with inlet 22 of the lower cylinder, the outlet 24 of thelower cylinder is discharged into the compressor casing and connectedwith the unblocked output passage 54 of the reversing valve through theupper outlet 42 on the compressor casing; the another outlet 14 of thereservoir is connected with the output passage 58 of the reversing valvewhich may be blocked, the input passage 56 of the reversing valve isconnected with the inlet 32 of the upper cylinder, the output 34 of theupper cylinder is the output of the compressor, at the same time,connected with the input passage 52 of the reversing valve through abranch pipe 46 on the casing.

The work process is performed as follows: when the reversing valve is inthe 2way-2through state, the fluid in one passage 12 of the reservoirenters the lower cylinder 20, the output 24 of the lower cylinder 20 isdischarged into the compressor casing and enters the branch pipe 46through the upper outlet 42 on the compressor casing and the passage54-52 of the reversing valve, the fluid in another passage 14 of thereservoir enters the upper cylinder 30 through the passage 58-56 of thereversing valve, the output 34 of the upper cylinder 30 and the outputof the lower cylinder 20 from the branch pipe converge as the compressoroutput. At this time the two cylinders are arranged in parallel, thedischarge volume is the sum of the two cylinders' discharge amount. Whenthe reversing valve is in the oneway-2through state, the output 24 ofthe lower cylinder 20 is discharged into the compressor casing andenters the upper cylinder 30 through the upper outlet 42 and the passage54-56 of the reversing valve, the output 34 of the upper cylinder 30 isdischarged as the compressor output; the fluid in another passage 14 ofthe reservoir is blocked at the output passage 58 of the reversing valvewhich may be blocked, at this time the branch pipe 46 connected with theoutput 34 of the upper cylinder 30 is also blocked at the output passage58 of the reversing valve which may be blocked. At this time the twocylinders are arranged in series, the discharge volume is that of thefirst stage cylinder.

This connection form is characterized in that when two cylinders arearranged and compressed in series, the middle pressure gas in the casingis discharged from the first stage cylinder, it is advantageous toreduce the pressure sustaining requirement of the casing and prevent theleakage of the refrigerant.

Embodiment 3

The capacity switch device may be a 4way-2way reversing valve as shownin FIG. 3. The reversing valve has two input passages a and c and twooutput passages b and d, while in one work state, the input passage a iscommunicated with the output passage b, the input passage c iscommunicated with the output passage d; however in the other work stateafter switching, the input passage c is communicated with the outputpassage b, the input passage a and the output passage d are blocked.

Embodiment 4

Based on the work principle of the said capacity switch device as shownin FIG. 3, the device may consist of a single way valve M and a general4way valve as shown in FIG. 5, the single way valve M is provided in oneoutput passage of the general 4way valve in series, when gas flows fromthis output passage to the 4way valve, the flow is blocked so that oneof the two passages is blocked as the 4way valve in one state.

Embodiment 5

Based on the work principle of the said capacity switch device as shownin FIG. 3, the device may consist of a solenoid valve N and a general4way valve as shown in FIG. 6, the solenoid valve N is provided in oneoutput passage of the general 4way valve in series. When the solenoidvalve is switched on, the 4way valve is in 4way open state; when thesolenoid valve is switched off, one of the two passages is blocked.

Embodiment 6

Based on the work principle of the said capacity switch device as shownin FIG. 3, the device may consist of three solenoid valves as shown inFIG. 7. The three solenoid valves N1,N2,N3 are provided in series insuch way that the free end of N1 is input passage a, the connectionpoint of N1 and N2 is output passage b, the connection point of N2 andN3 is another input passage c, the free end of N3 is another outputpassage d. When the solenoid valve N1 and N3 are switched on while N2 isswitched off, the input passage a is in communication with the outputpassage b, and the input passage c is in communication with the outputpassage d; When the solenoid valve N1 and N3 are switched off while N2is switched on, the input passage c is in communication with the outputpassage b, and the other passages are blocked. Therefore it is possibleto realize the switch function for the capacity switch device bycontrolling each solenoid valve.

Embodiment 7

Based on the work principle of the said capacity switch device as shownin FIG. 3, the device may consist of a single way valve and two solenoidvalves as shown in FIG. 8. One single way valve M1 and two solenoidvalves N4, N5 are provided in series in such way that the one end of M1is input passage a, the connection point of M1 and N4 is output passageb, the connection point of N4 and N5 is another input passage c, theother end of N5 is output passage d. When the solenoid valve N5 isswitched on while N4 is switched off, the input passage a is incommunication with the output passage b, and the input passage c is incommunication with the output passage d; when the solenoid valve N4 isswitched on while N5 is switched off, the input passage c is incommunication with the output passage b, and the passage between theinput passage c and the output passage d is blocked, and so the passagebetween b and a is also blocked conversely. Therefore it is possible torealize the switch function for the capacity switch device bycontrolling the solenoid valve N4 and N5.

Embodiment 8

One example of the special 4way-2way solenoid reversing valve used forthe compressor with controlled capacity according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 4. In the valve casing there are a solenoidvalve 51 and a pneumatic slide valve 53 controlled by this solenoidvalve; the said slide valve 53 mainly includes a movable valve core 532controlled by a solenoid valve, a valve seat 536 and two input passagesand two output passages; the middle valve core is gas collection chamber524 which has four passages, one of which is served as input passage 52,the other passages are equidistantly arranged on the valve seat 536, theleft and right passage are two output passages 54 and 58, the middle oneis another input passage 56; the said valve core 532 drives a bowl valve538 which may slide in left or right direction on the seat 536, the bowlvalve can cover the two adjacent passages 54 or 56 on the left side, orthe two adjacent passages 56 or 58 on the right side of the valve seat536 at left and right position respectively, and make them incommunication; the said bowl valve 538 is provided with a bowl valvetongue 538 a on the right side, when the bowl valve 538 is on the rightside, the bowl valve 538 covers the two adjacent passages 56 and 58 onthe right side of the valve seat 536, the bowl valve tongue 538 a isinactive; when the bowl valve 538 is on the left side, the bowl valve538 covers the two adjacent passages 54 and 5 on the left side of thevalve seat 536, the other output passage 58 is blocked by the bowl valvetongue 538 a; one of the two output passages is blocked.

Evidently the bowl valve tongue 538 a may be provided on the left sideof the bowl valve 538 as well, at this point it is the output passage 54on the left side of the valve seat 536 that is blocked, and the workprinciple is similar.

1. A compressor with controlled capacity comprising a double cylindercompressor with a reservoir, a capacity switch device, wherein theoutlet of said reservoir being divided into two branches to connect witha upper and a lower cylinders of said double cylinder compressorrespectively through said capacity switch device for switching between a2way-2through or an oneway-2through position to realize a connection inseries or in parallel for the upper and lower cylinders, thereby, thedischarge capacity of the compressor is controlled as the dischargecapacity of the first stage cylinder when connection in series, or thesum of the two cylinders discharge capacities when connection inparallel.
 2. The compressor with controlled capacity according to claim1, wherein the capacity switch device has two input passages (a) and (c)and two output passages (b) and (d), while in one work state, the inputpassage (a) is communicated with the output passage (b), the inputpassage (c) is communicated with the output passage (d); however in theother work state after switching, one passage between the input passage(c) and the output passage (b) or between the input passage (a) and theoutput passage (d) is blocked.
 3. The compressor with controlledcapacity according to claim 1, wherein a connection form is as follows:an outlet of the said reservoir is connected with an inlet of the lowercylinder, an outlet of the lower cylinder is connected with an unblockedoutput passage of the capacity switch device, an input passage 52 of thecapacity switch device is connected with a bypass on a compressorcasing; another outlet of the reservoir is connected with the otheroutput passage of the capacity switch device, an output passage of thecapacity switch device which may be blocked is connected with an inletof the upper cylinder, the gas compressed by the upper cylinder will bedischarged through a compressor casing upper outlet; in this kind ofconnection form when compressed as two stage, the gas pressure in thecasing is a high pressure discharged from the second stage cylinder i.e.the upper cylinder.
 4. The compressor with controlled capacity accordingto claim 1, wherein a connection form is as follows: an outlet of saidreservoir is connected with an inlet of the lower cylinder, an outlet ofthe lower cylinder is discharged into the compressor casing andconnected with an unblocked output passage of the capacity switch devicethrough an upper outlet on the compressor casing; another outlet of thereservoir is connected with an output passage of the capacity switchdevice which may be blocked, another input passage of the capacityswitch device is connected with an inlet passage of the upper cylinder,the output of the upper cylinder is the output of the compressor andconnected with a input passage of the capacity switch device through abranch pipe; in this kind of connection form when compressed as twostage, the gas pressure in the casing is a middle pressure dischargedfrom the first stage cylinder i.e. the lower cylinder.
 5. The compressorwith controlled capacity according to claim 1, wherein the capacityswitch device comprises a single way valve (M) or a solenoid valve (N)and a general 4way valve, the single way valve (M) or the solenoid valve(N) is provided in one output passage of the general 4way valve inseries.
 6. The compressor with controlled capacity according to claim 1,wherein the capacity switch device comprises three solenoid valves, thethree solenoid valves (N1), (N2), (N3) are provided in series in suchway that a free end of (N1) is input passage (a), the connection pointof solenoid valves (N1) and (N2) is output passage (b), the connectionpoint of solenoid valves (N2) and (N3) is another input passage (c), thefree end of (N3) is another output passage (d); when the solenoid valves(N1) and (N3) are switched on while (N2) is switched off, the inputpassage (a) is in communication with the output passage (b), and theinput passage (c) is in communication with the output passage (d); whenthe solenoid valve (N1) and (N3) are switched off while (N2) is switchedon, the input passage (c) is in communication with the output passage(b), and the input passage (a) and the output passage (d) are blocked.7. The compressor with controlled capacity according to claim 1, whereinthe capacity switch device comprises a single way valve (M1) and twosolenoid valves (N4), (N5) which are provided in series in such way thata free end of single way valve (M1) is input passage (a), the connectionpoint of single way valve (M1) and solenoid valve (N4) is output passage(b), the connection point of solenoid valves (N4) and (N5) is inputpassage (c), other end of solenoid valves (N5) is output passage (d);when the solenoid valve (N5) is switched on while the solenoid valve(N4) is switched off, the input passage (a) is in communication with theoutput passage (b), and the input passage (c) is in communication withthe output passage (d); when the solenoid valve (N4) is switched onwhile solenoid valve (N5) is switched off, the input passage (c) is incommunication with the output passage (b), and the input passage (a) andoutput passage (d) are blocked.
 8. The compressor with controlledcapacity according to claim 2, wherein a connection form is as follows:an outlet of the said reservoir is connected with an inlet of the lowercylinder, an outlet of the lower cylinder is connected with an unblockedoutput passage of the capacity switch device, an input passage 52 of thecapacity switch device is connected with a bypass on a compressorcasing; another outlet of the reservoir is connected with the otheroutput passage of the capacity switch device, an output passage of thecapacity switch device which may be blocked is connected with an inletof the upper cylinder, the gas compressed by the upper cylinder will bedischarged through a compressor casing upper outlet; in this kind ofconnection form when compressed as two stage, the gas pressure in thecasing is a high pressure discharged from the second stage cylinder i.e.the upper cylinder.
 9. The compressor with controlled capacity accordingto claim 2, wherein a connection form is as follows: an outlet of saidreservoir is connected with an inlet of the lower cylinder, an outlet ofthe lower cylinder is discharged into the compressor casing andconnected with an unblocked output passage of the capacity switch devicethrough an upper outlet on the compressor casing; another outlet of thereservoir is connected with an output passage of the capacity switchdevice which may be blocked, another input passage of the capacityswitch device is connected with an inlet passage of the upper cylinder,the output of the upper cylinder is the output of the compressor andconnected with a input passage of the capacity switch device through abranch pipe; in this kind of connection form when compressed as twostage, the gas pressure in the casing is a middle pressure dischargedfrom the first stage cylinder i.e. the lower cylinder.
 10. Thecompressor with controlled capacity according to claim 2, wherein thecapacity switch device comprises a single way valve (M) or a solenoidvalve (N) and a general 4way valve, the single way valve (M) or thesolenoid valve (N) is provided in one output passage of the general 4wayvalve in series.
 11. The compressor with controlled capacity accordingto claim 2, wherein the capacity switch device comprises three solenoidvalves, the three solenoid valves (N1), (N2), (N3) are provided inseries in such way that a free end of (N1) is input passage (a), theconnection point of solenoid valves (N1) and (N2) is output passage (b),the connection point of solenoid valves (N2) and (N3) is another inputpassage (c), the free end of (N3) is another output passage (d); whenthe solenoid valves (N1) and (N3) are switched on while (N2) is switchedoff, the input passage (a) is in communication with the output passage(b), and the input passage (c) is in communication with the outputpassage (d); when the solenoid valve (N1) and (N3) are switched offwhile (N2) is switched on, the input passage (c) is in communicationwith the output passage (b), and the input passage (a) and the outputpassage (d) are blocked.
 12. The compressor with controlled capacityaccording to claim 2, wherein the capacity switch device comprises asingle way valve (M1) and two solenoid valves (N4), (N5) which areprovided in series in such way that a free end of single way valve (M1)is input passage (a), the connection point of single way valve (M1) andsolenoid valve (N4) is output passage (b), the connection point ofsolenoid valves (N4) and (N5) is input passage (c), other end ofsolenoid valves (N5) is output passage (d); when the solenoid valve (N5)is switched on while the solenoid valve (N4) is switched off, the inputpassage (a) is in communication with the output passage (b), and theinput passage (c) is in communication with the output passage (d); whenthe solenoid valve (N4) is switched on while solenoid valve (N5) isswitched off, the input passage (c) is in communication with the outputpassage (b), and the input passage (a) and output passage (d) areblocked.